Voigtländer 12mm f/5.6 ASPH

2000-today, filter adapter needed for 77mm filters, 173g.

It's a screw-mount lens, so be sure to get a screw-mount adapter for use on M cameras. It comes with a dedicated 12mm finder.

It comes in black as shown or silver.

It's sharp, and has plenty of falloff (darker corners) as expected. I'm a wide-angle junkie, and 12mm is too wide, even for me. It is not rangefinder coupled as all Leica brand lenses. No big deal, just guess. Its depth-of-field is just about unlimited.

TTL metering works great on all M cameras.

Achtung: Although wonderful on film, this lens sucks on the M9 because its rear nodal point is too close for the sensor. The left and right sides take on weird color shifts. For the M9, get the LEICA 16-18-21mm zoom instead.

New: bayonet mount version.

enlarge image or more information (review coming)

Voigtländer 15mm f/4.5 M II ASPH

2009-today, 52mm filters, 155g.

An excellent lens in every way. TTL metering works great on all M cameras.

Achtung: Although wonderful on film, this lens sucks on the M9 because its rear nodal point is too close for the sensor. The left and right sides take on weird color shifts. For the M9, get the LEICA 16-18-21mm zoom instead.

Full review.

Voigtländer 15mm f/4.5 ASPH

1999-today, no filters, 115g.

Same as the lens above, except that it's screw-thread, and has no rangefinder coupling or filter thread. Be sure to get an adapter to use it on M cameras.

TTL metering works great on all M cameras.

Achtung: Although wonderful on film, this lens sucks on the M9 because its rear nodal point is too close for the sensor. The left and right sides take on weird color shifts. For the M9, get the LEICA 16-18-21mm zoom instead.

Full review.

LEICA SUPER-ELMAR-M 18mm f/3.8 ASPH

2009-today, 77mm filters, 310g. 11 649.

Fantastic performance at a low price. Needs adapter as shown to use most filters.

Full review.

Zeiss 18mm f/4 ZM

2007-today, 58mm filters. 323g.

As good as the Leica, for a lot less money.

Full review.

Leica versus Zeiss 18mm Comparison Test

Guide to all Leica 21mm lenses, 1958 ~ 2009

Comparison of all 21mm Rangefinder Lenses

Guide to all Leica 21mm Finders, 1958 - 2009

How to Use Ultra-Wide Lenses

LEICA SUMMILUX-M 21mm f/1.4 ASPH

2008-today, Series VIII filters, 580g. 11 647.

$6,500.

The world's fastest ultrawide lens. It probably blocks your finder a great deal.

Also can take 82mm filters with 14 481 adapter.

enlarge image or more information (no review yet)

LEICA ELMARIT-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH

1997-today, 55mm filters, 317g. 11 135.

Leica's standard ultra-wide lens.

Full review.   Sample image (12MB JPG).

NEU: LEITZ 21mm f/4 SUPER-ANGULON

1958-1963, 39mm filters, 251g. 11 102. (screw-mount: 11 002.)

A sharp, tiny, distortion-free lens; Leica's only 21mm that takes standard E39 filters and A42 accessories.

Achtung: Nicht für die M9. For the M9, get the LEICA 21mm f/2.8 ASPH instead.

Full review.   Sample image (12MB JPG).

Voigtländer 21mm f/4

2009-today, 39mm filters, 132g.

The tiniest ultrawide ever for Leica. A great performer that fulfills Oskar Barnack's vision even better than Leica's own lenses today.

Achtung: Although wonderful on film, this lens is not for the M9 because its rear nodal point is too close for the sensor. The left and right sides take on weird color shifts. For the M9, get the LEICA 21mm f/2.8 ASPH instead.

Full review.

LEICA SUMMILUX-M 24mm f/1.4 ASPH

2008-today, Series VII filters, 468g. 11 601.

Leica's fastest 24mm lens.

$6,500.

Also takes 72mm filters with 14 479 adapter.

NEU: Full review.

LEICA ELMARIT-M 24mm f/2.8 ASPH

1996-today, 55mm filters, 290g (388g in silver). 11 878.

This is Leica's most popular 24mm lens, at a moderate $4,000. It is very similar in size and appearance to its cousin, the 21mm f/2.8 ASPH.

enlarge image or more information. (no review yet).

LEICA ELMAR-M 24mm f/3.8 ASPH

2008-today, 46mm filters, 260g. 11 648.

This is Leica's smallest 24mm lens, and also Leica's most insanely sharp and least distorting 24mm lens. It is offered at a very reasonable $2,400. Per Leica's specs, it is super sharp even wide open in the farthest corners. I have no reason to doubt this, although I have yet to try it.

enlarge image or more information. (no review yet).

LEICA SUMMICRON-M 28mm f/2 ASPH

2000-today, 46mm filters, 256g. 11 604.

The world's sharpest wide-angle lens. It is the only 28mm f/2 lens ever made by Leica. It is fantastic on the M9.

Full review.

LEICA ELMARIT-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH

2008-today, 39mm filters 173g. 11 606.

Leica's tiniest current lens, and a stellar performer as well. If you can get only one wide lens, this is a great choice. Especially with the M9, there is no need for the f/2 ASPH unless you just have to have it. This f/2.8 is fantastic on the M9.

Full review.

Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 ZM

46mm filters, 210g.

Optically a bit better than the LEICA 28mm f/2.8 ASPH and it can use two stacked 46mm filters without vignetting in full-frame, but it's bigger, heavier and blocks the finder.

Full review.

Konica M 28mm f/2.8

46mm filters, 226g.

Optically and mechanically inferior to the LEICA 28mm f/2.8 ASPH and Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 ZM, oddly it sells for almost as much used.

Full review.

Older LEICA 28mm f/2.8 lenses

1936-2008.

I would forget any older Leica 28mm lens. Today's 28mm f/2.8 ASPH is the highest-performance f/2.8 they've ever made, and it doesn't cost much more brand new than older 28mm lenses cost used! Today's f/2.8 is also the smallest 28mm f/2.8 ever made by Leica, so it's a no-brainer.

Voigtländer 28mm f/1.9

2000-2008, 46mm filters, 261g.

Inferior to LEICA in every way, but far less expensive and good enough for most people.

Full review.

LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH

1994-today, 46mm filters, 307g. 11 874.

The world's highest-performance fast wide-angle lens.

Full review.   Sample image (5MB JPG).

LEICA SUMMICRON-M 35mm f/2 ASPH

1996-today, 39mm filters, 254g. 11 879 in black, 11 882 in chrome. (mit Schraubgewinde M 39 (screw mount) version, c. 1999, chrome: 11 608)

Leica's most practical wide-angle today. It comes in black aluminum (11 879) and chromed brass (11 882).

Full review.

LEICA SUMMARIT-M 35mm f/2.5 (bargain-line)

2007-today, 39mm filters, 220g. 11 643.

I haven't used this new lens, but the other Summarit-M lens I used had superb optical quality with sub-par mechanical quality.

I wouldn't buy one of these. For less money you can get a used 35mm SUMMICRON lens of whatever vintage you like, including the current ASPH, or get a 1960's SUMMARON f/2.8 which ought to do about the same thing for a whole lot less.

enlarge image or more information (no review yet).

LEICA SUMMILUX 35mm f/1.4

1960-1995, 41mm or Serie VII filters (details), 184g. 11 870. (Für M3: 11 871, 325g.)

The world's smallest professional f/1.4 lens.

It's fantastic stopped down, but today's LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH is far superior at f/1.4.

Full review.

Konica UC 35mm f/2

43mm filters, 132g.

The lightest 35mm lens for LEICA, but optically inferior to the LEICA SUMMICRON-M 35mm f/2 ASPH.

Full review.

LEICA SUMMICRON 35mm f/2

1958-1969, 39mm filters, 238g, 8-elements. 11 108 as shown (11 104 in black). 11 308 without M3 auxiliary finder optics (11 307 Z in black). 11 008 in screw mount.

A stellar performer even today, and priced to match. Even with the auxiliary finder optics shown, weighs less than today's ASPH version and performs as well, with even less distortion.

enlarge image (review coming).

Sample image (1.8MB JPG).

LEICA SUMMARON 35mm f/2.8

1958-1974, 39mm filters, 239g. SIMWO/11 106; SIMOO/11 006 without M3 auxiliary finder optics.

A bargain today, and a great performer.

Full review.

LEICA SUMMICRON-C 40mm f/2

1973-1977, 39 x 0.75mm filters, 126g. 11 542.

This may be the smallest and lightest M lens ever made by LEICA. It focuses perfectly on my LEICA M9, CLE and other LEICAs.

It works very well and is super-sharp, albeit a little less contrasty in the corners at f/2. Background bokeh is bad (foreground bokeh is great, but that doesn't count). Watch the filter thread: it's not a standard 39mm thread. Leica intends for this to be used with nonexistent series 5.5 filters held in place by the dedicated threaded rubber/metal hood 12 518. The lens' threads are the same diameter, but too coarse to receive standard filters.

I use regular 39mm filters, but I only screw them in to where they first stop. Force them and you destroy everything.

enlarge image and example photos (review coming).

LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH

2008-today, 60mm filters, 700g. 11 602.

The 60mm C-Polarizer is 13 406.

Leica's show-off lens, this huge thing weighs a ton. It sells for a for a mere $10,500. It has very little distortion, and is a huge improvement over the older f/1 spherical lens.

enlarge image or more information (no review yet).

LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50mm f/1

1976-2008, 60mm filters, 584g, made in Canada. 11 821. (Earliest version used 58mm filters, a bayonet metal hood and weighed 580g.)

The 60mm C-Polarizer was 13 376, now 13 406.

These sell for about $5,000 used. They use conventional spherical optics. They were only recently discontinued, and since many people buy them to try once, they are easy to find used.

NEU: Full review.

LEICA NOCTILUX 50mm f/1.2

1966-1975, Series VIII filters, 470-515g. 11 820. Spare hood: 12 503.

These sell for about $5,000 used, but don't appear that often. They are the world's first mass-produced aspherical lens, with two hand-ground aspherical surfaces.

enlarge image (no review yet).

LEICA SUMMILUX-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH

2004-today, 46mm filters, 335g, built-in hood. 11 891 in black aluminum; 11 892 in chromed brass.

This, along with the f/2 lens below, is the best 50mm lens ever made.

This 50mm SUMMILUX ASPH is beyond all others. It is sharper and has less distortion. It is the only 50mm f/1.4 on the planet that uses aspherical optics for insane sharpness even at f/1.4 with no distortion, and it is also the only one that uses floating elements to retain this level of performance at every distance. Every other 50mm f/1.4 lens, even Nikon's newest 50mm f/1.4 AF-S of 2008, makes due with conventional spherical optics and fixed elements.

enlarge image or more information (no review yet).

LEICA SUMMILUX 50mm f/1.4

Identical optics and coatings 1961-2004.

1961-1991: 43mm filters, 300g. 11 114.

1992-2004: 46mm filters, 360g, and adds built-in hood. 11 868.

1999- : Special screw-mount version sold in Japan.

This was the world's highest performance 50mm f/1.4 lens for 43 years. Its performance is exceeded only by the newer LEICA SUMMILUX-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH, introduced in 2004, and still exceeds the performance of Nikon and Canon 50mm f/1.4 lenses. Not bad for a lens designed in 1960!

Full review.

1994-today

1979-1994

LEICA SUMMICRON-M 50mm f/2

1994-today: 39mm filters, 240g, built-in hood, ring focus, 11 826 in black. (chromed brass: 335g., 11 816.)

1979-1994: 39mm filters, tab focus, round clip-on plastic hood, 195g. 11 819 (schwartz), 11 825 (silber chrom).

These all use the same optics.

This is the fourth optical iteration of the 50mm SUMMICRON on which Leica has built its reputation since 1953. All versions are wonderful, and today's optical iteration is the world's standard for 50mm performance.

Street names for these two mount types are "type 4" for the 1979-1994 version and "type 5" for the 1994-current version.

You could not go wrong with any 50mm SUMMICRON as your only Leica lens.

1999: Leica made a small run of these for Leica's screwmount cameras (made 1930-1960) in traditional M39 mount. They are otherwise the same as the current model, with 39mm filters, a built-in hood and ring focus. 11 619 in chromed brass (silber chrom).

Full review.

LEICA SUMMICRON 50mm f/2

1969-1979, 39mm filters, 200g. 11 817.

This is the third optical iteration of Leica's 50mm f/2 SUMMICRON, with six elements. It is one optical version before today's SUMMICRON-M optical design.

Its street name is "type 3."

You could not go wrong with this lens as your only Leica lens, for only about $400 used. Its performance is similar to the previous 1957-1968 SUMMICRON, with more contrast in exchange for a little less resolution. Dollar for dollar, Leica's best 50mm f/2 lens, but Leica has never been about price.

enlarge image. Example photos from Death Valley and Route 66. (review coming).

Rigid.

With near-focusing range (shown without viewfinder attachment, in normal range).

LEICA SUMMICRON 50mm f/2

1956-1968: all take 39mm filters.

This SUMMICRON has similar, but superior, optics to the first version. It came in screw and bayonet mounts, and the bayonet mount version came in two focus-mount versions:

1956- : Rigid screw mount, meters: SOSTA or 11 518.

1960-1963: Rigid screw mount, feet: 11 018 (rare).

1956-1968: Rigid bayonet mount, 251g, SOSIC or 11 818.

1956-1968: Rigid bayonet mount with near-focusing range (to 478mm), 339g + 52g finder attachment, SOMNI or 11 918. (Achtung:This special lens works perfectly on all Leica M cameras from M1 through M7, but an internal obstruction in the M9 prevents this version from focusing beyond 4 meters on the M9.)

The street name for both these SUMMICRONS is "type 2."

The street name for the 50mm SUMMICRON f/2 version with near-focusing range is "dual-range," or "DR," and the standard rigid lens is called "Rigid."

These are superior lenses, and are usually in good shape when found used.

click either image to enlarge (reviews coming).

Sample image (12MB JPG).

Bayonet mount.

Screw mount.

LEICA SUMMICRON 5cm f/2

1953-1960, 39mm filters.

This is Leica's first 50mm SUMMICRON lens, with seven elements. It came in two mounts. It replaces the SUMMITAR(1939-1953), which replaced the SUMMAR (1933-1939).

1953-1960: collapsible screw mount, 216.2g, 7.625 oz. (SOOIC). (228.7g, 8.065 oz. mit M-adapter.)

1954-1957: collapsible M mount, shown here, 233.8g, 8.245 oz. (SOOIC-M)

The street name for this SUMMICRON is "type 1," although specifying the year is more correct.

A prototype with a leaf shutter was made in 1956 for use at high flash sync speeds up to 1/200, but was never sold.

These are great lenses, but be careful: it's front element is made of glass as soft as chalk. It is highly unlikely that you will find one in usable condition.

click either to enlarge (reviews coming).

Konica M 50mm f/2

40.5mm filters, 255g.

An optically and mechanically inferior attempt at copying the LEICA SUMMICRON-M 50mm f/2.

Full review.

LEICA ELMAR-M 50mm f/2.8

1994-2007, 39mm filters, 167g, 13 131, 13 132.

Better than the original ELMAR f/2.8, but not that much better, and nowhere near as good, by LEICA standards, as the current SUMMICRON-M.

Full review.

LEITZ ELMAR 50mm f/2.8

1957-1974, 39mm filters.

M-mount: 207g. 11 112 (11 612 meters).

Screw-mount: 192g. 11 512 (204.0g/7.195 oz. mit M-adapter.)

Sample Image.

This is a perfectly good and inexpensive lens.

It's not up to current standards when shot at f/2.8, but at normal apertures, this lens is as good as current lenses.

Full review.

Industar 55mm f/2.8 N-61 L/D

? - 1990 - today?, 40.5mm filters, 130g., screw-mount.

This lens sells for about $20. It's sort of as sharp as the f/3.5 ELMAR below, but with much more distortion, larger size and somewhat more weight.

It does not collapse.

Full review.

LEITZ ELMAR 50mm f/3.5

1925-1961, A36 filters (later E39), 111.2g/3.920 oz. (123.6g/4.360 oz. mit 12.4g/0.435 oz M-adapter.)

This is the lens that started it all for 35mm photography.

Even uncoated, it gives sharp, colorful images. Shooting the 76-year-old sample shown at left, it makes me wonder why so many people worry so much about their lenses. It works fine.

enlarge image (no review yet).

LEICA SUMMARIT-M 50mm f/2.5 (bargain-line)

2007-today, 39mm filters, 230g. 11 644.

I haven't used this new lens, but the other Summarit-M lens I used had superb optical quality with sub-par mechanical quality.

I wouldn't buy one of these. For less money you can get a used 50mm SUMMICRON lens of whatever vintage you like for one-quarter the price.

enlarge image or more information (no review yet).

LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-M 75mm f/2 ASPH

2005-today, 49mm filters, 430g. 11 637.

I'd rather a 90mm lens, but as 75mm lenses go, this is the best ever made. Distortion is +1% maximum. and it's smaller than its big brother the 90mm f/2 APO ASPH.

enlarge image or more information (no review yet).

LEICA 75mm f/2.5 SUMMARIT-M (bargain-line)

2007-today, 46mm filters, 345g. 11 645.

I haven't used this new lens, but the other Summarit-M lens I used had superb optical quality with sub-par mechanical quality.

I wouldn't buy one of these. For less money you can get a used 90mm lens for a fraction of the price.

enlarge image or more information (no review yet).

1983-2005

1980-1982

LEICA SUMMILUX-M 75mm f/1.4

1982-2005: 60mm filters, 625g, built-in hood. 11 815.

1980-1982 (to serial 3 223 300): 60mm filters, 490g, bayonet hood. 11 814

I've not tried this one. It's a big fat lens that weighs as much as a camera.

The optics are all the same; the barrel was merely redesigned to include a hood in 1983.

Its performance lags behind the state-of-the-art LEICA 75mm f/2 APO-SUMMICRON-M ASPH.

enlarge 1980-1982 image

enlarge 1983-2005 image

(no review yet).

90mm f/2 lenses compared

90mm f/2.8 lenses compared

LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-M 90mm f/2 ASPH

1998-today, 55mm filters, 473g, built-in hood. 11 884 (11 636 in black paint with red footage markings).

The world's highest-performance photographic lens, period.

Full review.

LEICA SUMMICRON-M 90mm f/2

1980-1998, 55mm filters, 485g. 11 136. (earliest 1980-1981 version took 49mm filters and weighed 410g, also called 11 136.)

This fat 90mm f/2 replaced the first 90mm f/2 made from 1958-1980. This lens is made in Canada.

It looks almost exactly the same as today's 90mm f/2 APO ASPH, but shares none of today's lens' technology.

The first rarely seen version of this lens is a little smaller and lighter than the version seen here, which is most often found. The version shown here is a tad heavier than today's APO ASPH.

The only reason to get this lens is to save money versus the state-of-the-art 90mm f/2 APO ASPH.

enlarge image (review coming).

LEICA SUMMICRON 90mm f/2

1959-1980, 48mm filters, heavy 605-635g. 11 123.

This big, fat 90mm f/2 was made for decades in various colors and variations. This lens is an excellent performer, but too darn big for most of us.

If you don't mind the size and are on a budget, its performance is 95% the same as today's 90mm SUMMICRON APO ASPH on the M9.

Full review.

LEICA ELMARIT-M 90mm f/2.8

1990-2008, 46mm filters, 395g, built-in hood. 11 807.

Leica's best 90mm f/2.8 lens ever; as good as the 90mm f/2 ASPH, and therefore a screaming bargain used for less than an f/2.5 Summarit-M new.

It also came in silver (11 808, 560g), titanium, and maybe even more colors.

Full review.

LEICA TELE-ELMARIT-M 90mm f/2.8

1974-1990, 39mm filters, 226g. 11 800.

Leica's lightest 90mm ever and a swell performer; my favorite tele travel lens. Its small size and great performance allowed it to replace both the earlier TELE-ELMARIT and ELMARIT below. It's only limitation is that it's softer in the corners at f/2.8 than newer lenses, but so what: at f/2.8 in the corners with a tele, nothing usually is in focus anyway.

Full review.

NEU: LEICA TELE-ELMARIT 90mm f/2.8

1964-1974, 39mm filters, 340g. 11 800.

This was a smaller, lighter alternative to the premium ELMARIT below. Oddly, it outperforms this 1958-1974 ELMARIT, and although smaller, weighs more.

It was replaced by the TELE-ELMARIT-M above.

A streetname for this TELE-ELMARIT is the "fat" Tele-ELMARIT.

Full review.

LEICA ELMARIT 90mm f/2.8

1958-1974, 39mm filters, 333g, ELRIM/11 129.

Leica's first 90mm f/2.8. It has a flare problem, and is as sharp as its contemporary SUMMICRON.

Today, the newest LEICA ELMARIT-M 90mm f/2.8 is far superior, and sells for not much more used.

Full review.

Konica M 90mm f/2.8

46mm filters, 307g.

An optically and mechanically inferior attempt at copying the LEICA ELMARIT-M 90mm f/2.8.

Full review.

NEU: LEICA MACRO-ELMAR-M 90mm f/4

2003-today, 39mm filters, 223g (black aluminum 11 629), 320g (chromed brass 11 634).

This is LEICA's secret: This MACRO-ELMAR-M has optics as good as LEICA's best APO-SUMMICRON-M ASPH, but in a tiny package that colapses for carrying, and focuses much closer (0.78m) with no need of adapters!

This is LEICA's best 90mm lens for travel and light weight.

Add an optional 14 409 close-focus adapter, and you can get macro to 1:3 at 0.5 meters.

Full Review

LEICA ELMAR-C 90mm f/4

1973-1978, 39 x 0.75mm filters, 246g. 11 540; includes 12 517 hood and 14 543 pouch.

This compact 90mm lens came out for use with the LEICA CL. It works fine on other Leicas, especially the M7 and M9 with which I've used it. Focus is just fine.

Watch the filter thread: it's not a standard 39x 0.5mm thread. Leica intends for this to be used with nonexistent series 5.5 filters held in place by the dedicated threaded hood. The lens' threads are the same diameter, but too coarse to receive standard filters.

I use regular 39mm filters, but I only screw them in to where they first stop. Force them and you destroy everything.

This lens sells used for only about $100. Performance is swell, but watch for some obvious falloff (darkening) in the corners at f/4, gone by f/8. Bokeh is neutral to good.

I prefer the 90mm f/2.8 TELE-ELMARIT-M since it weighs slightly less with similar size and a stop extra speed, but if you're short on brains and cash, this is a great lens. (the crack about being short on brains means that you should never cheap-out on lenses, since they are a far better investment than cameras.)

enlarge image (review coming).

LEICA ELMAR 9cm (90mm) f4

1933-1964, Screw mount A36, later E39mm filters, 194.05g (6.845oz.). Later also in M-mount.

1954-1964, Collapsible M-mount, 39mm filters, 337g. 11 131 (feet), ILNOO or 11 631 (meters) .

This is Leica's first 90mm lens, designed in 1933 with four elements. It was sold in many different mounts, including the collapsible M mount seen here from 1955. More common is the rigid screw mount, which takes a slip-on A36 filter.

It's always contrasty, but it's softer in the corners at the largest apertures. f/11 and f/16 are optimum.

This version is solid chrome-plated brass. Its collapsible mount is a work of genius: Leica has it locked-out so you can't focus, and therefore accidentally shoot, unless you have it fully extended. It works great on everything including the M7, but look out: Leica specifically cautions not to try to mount this lens on the M9. I tried it on the M9, and it works fine. I even collapsed it a bit, and my M9's still kicking. Don't do this.

It has been coated since 1946. Another three-element design popped up from 1964-1969.

enlarge image (review coming).

LEICA SUMMARIT-M 90mm f/2.5 (bargain-line)

2008-today, 46mm filters, 344g. 11 646.

Spectacular optics with mediocre mechanics, a bad investment today.

Full review.

LEICA 135mm Lenses Compared

left to right:

1933-1960: HEKTOR f/4.5: HE FAM (bayonet).
1960-1965: ELMAR f/4: 11 850.
1965-1980: TELE-ELMAR f/4: 11 851.
1980-1998: TELE-ELMAR-M f/4: 11 861.

Not in picture:

1998 - : APO-TELYT f/3.4: 11 889.
1963-1998: ELMARIT and ELMARIT-M f/2.8: 11 829.

enlarge image

LEICA APO-TELYT-M 135mm f/3.4

1998-today, 49mm filters, 453g, built-in hood. 11 889.

Today's 135mm f/3.4 replaces both earlier f/4 and f/2.8 lenses, for at least eight times the price. It should offer spectacular performance. The adjustment of your camera's rangefinder will be your biggest limitation in sharpness.

enlarge image or more information (no review yet).

LEICA TELE-ELMAR-M 135mm f/4

1990-1998, 46mm filters, 550g, built-in hood. 11 861.

This TELE-ELMAR-M offers fantastic performance, for about 1/8 the price of the 135mm f/3.4 APO.

It has the same optics as the superb 1965 lens below. The biggest limitation to sharpness, as with all 135mm rangefinder lenses, is whether or not your camera's rangefinder and lenses are accurately adjusted to one another.

enlarge image (review coming).

LEICA TELE-ELMAR 135mm f/4

1965-1990, 39mm filters, 505g. 11 851.

This lens has the same optics as the TELE-ELMAR-M above, but in a smaller, lighter package.

Leica updated the styling to improve sales, therefore, this older lens is a top pick for fabulous optics in a smaller, lighter package for less money.

enlarge image (review coming).

LEICA ELMARIT 135mm f/2.8

1963-1977, Series VII filters, 730g. 11 829.

LEICA ELMARIT-M 135mm f/2.8

1977-1998, 55mm filters, 735g. 11 829.

(11 829 for both versions, -M version from serial number 2 788 927)

This is a big, fat lens. it was never popular because it is too big to make sense. It uses 1.5x magnifiers for the finder which key-in the 90mm frame lines and gives a life-size or bigger finder image, but don't do anything to alleviate the mechanical calibration errors which often give incorrect focus. Performance is fine, limited by your particular camera's calibration to focus with this lens.

enlarge image (review coming).

LEICA ELMAR 135mm f/4

1960-1965, 39mm filters, 405g 11 850.

A swell performer, and a bargain today second-hand. It's a traditional non-tele design and therefore not marked as such, and its a little longer than the newer TELE-ELMARs which replace it.

It is the lightest 135mm ever sold by Leica, and seeing how inexpensive it is, along with high performance, this is the cheapskate's top pick.

enlarge image (review coming).

LEICA HEKTOR 135mm f/4.5

1933-1960, 39mm filters, 436g. HE FAM.

Named after Barnack's dog with performance to match, this is a well-made lens.

It's not bad for 1933, but my last choice for a sharp Leica lens.

Full review.

LEICA TRI-ELMAR-M 16-18-21mm f/4 ASPH

2006-today, 67mm filters, 335g. 11 642.

Use the LEICA Universal Wide Finder. You can buy this finder with the lens as a kit if you like. Unlike the earlier 28-50mm zoom below, this newer lens does not couple its focal length to the camera via 6-bit code as you zoom it.

I've played with this lens, but not extensively. I prefer a fixed ultrawide.

enlarge image or more information. (no review yet).

LEICA TRI-ELMAR-M 28-35-50mm f/4 ASPH

1998 - ?, 55mm, later 49mm filters.

First black aluminum version (11 890) weighed 340g; first chromed brass version (11 894) weighed 460g. Latter version is 11 625.

Unlike the newer 16-21mm zoom, this older zoom was very handy because it automatically selected the correct finder frame as you zoomed.

(no review yet).